Seek the Purchaser who is seeking thee, One who knows thy beginning and end.

مشتریی جو که جویان توست ** عالم آغاز و پایان توست

Beware, do not try to win every purchaser: ’tis bad to make love to two sweethearts.1465

هین مکش هر مشتری را تو به دست ** عشق‌بازی با دو معشوقه بدست

Thou wilt not get interest or capital from him, if he purchase (thee): in sooth he has not the price for (thy) reason and intellect.

زو نیابی سود و مایه گر خرد ** نبودش خود قیمت عقل و خرد

He has not even the price of half a horseshoe, and thou art offering him (what is precious as) corundum and rubies.

نیست او را خود بهای نیم نعل ** تو برو عرضه کنی یاقوت و لعل

Cupidity hath blinded thee and will deprive thee (of blessedness): the Devil will make thee accursed like himself.

حرص کورت کرد و محرومت کند ** دیو هم‌چون خویش مرجومت کند

Just as that wrathful (fiend) made accursed like himself the Fellows of the Elephant and the people of Lot.

هم‌چنانک اصحاب فیل و قوم لوط ** کردشان مرجوم چون خود آن سخوط

The patient (devout and self-denying) have gained the Purchaser, since they did not hasten towards every purchaser.1470

مشتری را صابران در یافتند ** چون سوی هر مشتری نشتافتند

He that averted his face from that Purchaser—fortune and felicity and everlasting life are quit of him.

آنک گردانید رو زان مشتری ** بخت و اقبال و بقا شد زو بری

Grief remains for ever (as a doom) on the covetous, as happened to the people of Zarwán in their envy.

ماند حسرت بر حریصان تا ابد ** هم‌چو حال اهل ضروان در حسد

Story of the people of Zarwán and their envy of the poor. “Our father,” they said, “from (foolish) sympathy used to give the poor the most part of the produce of his orchard.” When it was grapes, he would give a tithe; and when they were turned into raisins or syrup, he would give a tithe; and whenever he made halwá or pálúda, he would give a tithe; and he would give a tithe of the corn-sheaves, and when he threshed (the corn), he would give a tithe of the unthreshed ears mixed (with straw); and when he separated the wheat from the straw, he would give a tithe, and when he made flour, he would give a tithe; and when he leavened the dough, he would give a tithe; and when he made bread, he would give a tithe. Consequently, God most High had laid such a blessing on his orchard and crops that all the (other) owners of orchards were in need of him, both for fruit and money, while he needed nothing from any of them. His sons saw the repeated payment of tithes, and did not see the blessing, velut illa femina infelix quae veretrum asini vidit, curcurbitam non vidit. [Story of the people of Zarwán…. His sons saw the repeated payment of tithes, and did not see the blessing, just as that unfortunate woman who (only) saw the ass’s penis and did not see the gourd.]